LISBON, liebim (Port. Lisboa). The capital of Portugal and of the Province of Estremadura, situated on the north shore of the estuary of the Tagus. 7 miles from the ocean: latitude 38° 43' N., longitude 90° II' W. (Map: Portugal. A 3). The estuary is here about 13/4 miles wide. but immediately above the city it widens into a large lake from 4 to 8 miles wide, forming one of the best harbors of Europe. with deep water both in the lake and through the narrow en trance, which is defended by fortifications. The. city stretches along the coast for five miles, and rise in a succession of terraces, its houses min gling with the green foliage of its parks, the sur rounding district being dotted with villas. The city proper is divided into four parts, the old town, the Alfama, in the east; the new town, or the Chia( Baira, in the middle and on the low ground next to the Tagus; the Bain.° .1/to on the heights to the north, and A Irfintora in the west. It is not fortified on the land side, and straggles off in long avenues bordered with villas toward the plateau of Estremadura.
The old town is built around a hill surmounted by the Castello de Silo Jorge, an old Moorish castle now used as barracks and military prison. This was the only part of the city not destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755. It still has a number of Moorish and Roman remains, and its streets are narrow and crooked, besides being steep and ill-paved. There are a large number of churches in this section, many of them very old, especially the Si'? Patriarchal, or cathedral, which dates from the twelfth century. The new town, to the west of the old town, is regularly laid out with wide streets crossing at 'right angles. and traversed by numerous street railways. Facing the river-front is the largest square in the city, the Praca do Cominercio, surrounded by public buildings and containing a large statue of King Joseph I. in the centre. On the west side of the square are the general post-office and the naval arsenal; on the cast arc the exchange and the custom-house, and on the north are two minis terial buildings and the city ball. From this plaza extend eight parallel streets to the north, the one in the centre being entered through a tri umphal arch, and all of them terminating at the Praca de Dom Pedro IV., with a statue of that monarch and two bronze fountains. Running northwest from this praca is the largest and finest promenade in the city, the Avenida da Liberdade, which is one mile long and 300 feet wide, with a double row of shade-trees along the middle. It passes near the Botanical Garden, one of the finest in Europe, containing a superb collection of tropical plants, and inclosing also the polytechnic school and the astronomical ob servatory. Half a mile to the west is the beauti ful Estrella Garden, opposite the Estrella Church, the most conspicuous building in the city. with a
white marble cupola, and two hell-towers that can be seen for many miles around. Still farther to the west, and within the limits of the bairro of Aletintara, stands the royal palace, with its fine park. the Tapada das Necessidades; and from here the road crosses the Aledntara River into the suhurbs of Belem and Ajuda, forming the ex treme western part of the city.
Lisbon has a medical school, a normal school, several high schools, schools of commerce, agri culture, and navigation, academies of art and music, several museums, scientific academies and societies, and the national public library, contain ing over 200,000 volumes. about 10.000 manu scripts, and a large collection of coins. Among public works should he mentioned the two aque ducts, one 15, the other 70 miles long, which sup ply the city with abundant and pure water. The sewerage system is excellent, and the city is one of the cleanest in Europe. It has manufactures of jewelry, musical instruments. woolen, cotton, and silk fabrics, gloves, hate, shoes, paper, soap, and chemicals, and various other articles; it has also sugar-refineries, iron-foundries, and machine shops. Commercially Lisbon has the natural advantages of harbor and geographical position that should make it a leading centre of traffic. Its trade is principally with England, Brazil, and the African colonies. The chief imports are grain, sugar, cotton, tobacco, coal, petroleum, and timber; the chief exports, cork, wine, olive oil, salt, fruits, and fish; besides, Lisbon is an impor tant port of transit for colonial wares. In 1887 extensive harbor improvements, including the con struction of several large docks. were begun, which render the commercial outlook very promis ing. The population was, in 1890, 308,000, and in 1900, 357,000.
Lisbon was called Olisipo by the ancient Lusi tanians ; the Visigoths changed the name to Mini pona, and the Moors to Lishbuna, whence the present name. It is said to have been founded by the Pheenicians, and was the flourishing capital of Lusitania when first visited by the Romans. It was taken by the :Moors in 716 and held by them till 1147, when it was recaptured by Alfonso 1. with an army of Crusaders, mostly Englishmen. During the centuries of Portuguese exploration Lisbon rose to a high position of commercial supremacy. It lost this position during the Span ish occupation ( 1580- I tt-10 ) . On the 1st of November. 1755, the city was visited by a fright ful earthquake, which laid the greater part of it in ruins and killed 30.000 to 40,000 persons. Its rapid recovery was due largely to the clergy of the Prime the Marquis of Pombal. In 1807.08 the city was occupied by the French.